Boiler-tube cutter.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

E. SHACKELFORD.

BOILER TUBE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

[/VVEN 7019 Alto/flay 9 66319627" fizckc Zfrd NITED STATES Patented July12, 1904.

PATENT, Fries.

BOILER-TUBE CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,637, dated July 12,1904.

Application filed May 28, 1903. Se 159,146. (No model.)

To It 11/71/0111, it ntrty concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR SIIACKELFORD, a

A citizen of the United States, residing at (Jambridge, in the county ofDorchester and State 5 of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Boiler-Tube Cutters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for cutting off tubes or pipes ingeneral, but more specifically to that class of such devices as areintended for cutting out the tubes of boilers.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved tube-cutter whichcan be readily adjusted into position for workor removed from suchposition, is economical and compact in structure and rapid and reliablein operation, and in which the eutting-tool can be instantly adjustedinto place and removed for repair or renewal.

lVith this object in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the parts of a tubecutter,which will be hereinafter fully described and afterward specificallyclaimed.

5 l have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a view in elevation, illustrating the invention in positionin a boiler-tube, the handle of the ratchet-wrench and also part of thebody being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view of the device removed from thetube in longitudinal section, partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a 5 transverse vertical section on the line t 4: of

Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a indicates the main body of thetool, which is preferably in the form of a cylinder of metal providedwith a recess or chamber 6 open at the bottom and extending verticallyand longitudinally a considerable portion of the length of the body.From this recess or chamber 7) a continuation thereof at the inner endof the chamber, as at c in Fig. 4, extends through the upper surface ofthe body, both chambers and 0 being rectangular in crosssection. In thechamber 0 is located the cutting-tool (Z, which is freely rotatable,being mounted upon a shaft 0, journaled in a block f, which is free torise and fall, and thus move the cutting-tool in a radial direction nearto or farther from the axial line of the body a, such movement beingeffected by means of a lever g, pivoted on a pin it and located in thelongitudinal chamber 7), the forward end of said lever being locatedbeneath and forming the support of the cutter-block f, while its outerend is engaged by a left-hand-threaded set-screw or adjusting-bolt 71,threaded through the outer end of the body a, the outer end of the leverbeing beveled at 7' to receive the conical inner end is of the screw.

Z Z indicate two rollers (although their number may be varied) which arejournaled. in longitudinal recesses m m in the body (4, preferably onits lower side, the outer end journals of said rollers being located ina head or end piece a, secured to the inner end of the body a by meansof screwso.

At p is shown a flanged collar adapted to he slipped upon the body a andto be secured in any desired position thereon by means of a set-screw q.The outer'end of the'body (1/ is reduced and squared, as at r, toreceive a ratchet-wrench s.

25 indicates a portion of a boiler-head, and u a portion of a tubesecured therein.

The outer end of the adj Listing-screw is provided with a pivoteddrop-handle '2), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the device may be described as follows: The parts beingin position with the cutter (Z projecting slightly beyond thecircumference of the body a, the inner end of the instrument is insertedin the tube it until the cutter reaches the point at which the tube isto be cut off. The eollarp now slipped along the body (1/ until itcontacts with the boiler head or the outer head of the tube, Where it issecured in position by the set-screw q. The screw 2' is now turnedinward against the lever 9 until the cutter (Z is brought into forciblecontact with the interior of the tube, the rollers Z 6 being in contactwith the interior of the tube substantially diametrically opposite tothe point of contact with the cutter. The whole implement is now turnedby means of the ratcheti wrench until the cutter makes an annular grooveinside of the tube, during which turning the screw '21 is continuouslyturned inward by holding the drop-handle stationary, throwing the cutterd gradually farther outward, and the tool continuously turned until acut of sufficient depth has been made in the tube or the tube entirelyout off. Should the feed of the tool be too rapid, it may be retarded byturning the handle of the screw with the tool, and if too slow it may beaccelerated by turning the handle in the direction opposite to that ofthe tool. In placing the wrench upon the reduced end of the body it isslipped over the drop-handle in its extended position, or a reversibleratchetwrench may be permanently attached.

The implement is compact and of economical construction, all of theoperating devices being substantially included within the area of thebody a in that portion which enters the tube. The distance of the cutterin the tube is readily and quickly maintained by the collar andset-screw q and its depth of out quickly adjusted through the medium ofthe screw 2', both of the adjusting-screws and 9 being located outsideof the boiler-head and readily accessible. The chambers in which thecutter, cutter-block, and adjusting-lever are located may be made in thebody by casting said body, and the rollers Z, while affording asubstantially frictionless bearing on the inside of the tube, arereadily insertible and removable by means of the head a and screws 0.

While I have described the set or adjusting screw as left-hand-threaded,it might be right hand-threaded for a person who desired to turn thetool to the left, the only requirement being that it be threaded in thedirection opposite to that in which the tool is to be turned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a tube-cutter, the combination with a cylindrical body providedwith a longitudinal chamber open at the bottom and a branch therefromopen through the top, of a cutterblock mounted in the branch chamber, a1'0- tary cutter journaled in the block, a lever pivoted in thelongitudinal chamber, supporting the cutter-block at its forward end andhaving its rear end beveled, a conicallypointed left-hand-threadedset-screw threaded through the outer end of the body and bearing uponthe beveled rear end of the lever, a pivoted drop-handle on the outerend of the set-screw, and a reduced squared outer end on the body toreceive a wrench, substantially as described.

2. In a tube-cutter, the combination with a cylindrical body, providedwith a longitudinal chamber, opening through the bottom and a branchtherefrom opening through the top, of a cutter block mounted in thebranch chamber, a rotary cutter journaled in the block, a lever pivotedin the longitudinal chamber and supporting the cutter-block at itsforward end, a set-screw threaded through the body and bearing upon therear end of the lever, an inner head removably secured to the body, andlongitudinal rollers located in recesses in the lower side of the body,projecting slightly beyond the periphery thereof and journaled at theirinner ends in the body and their outer ends in the removable head,substantially as described.

3. In a tube-cutter, the combination with a cylindrical body, of acutter mounted to move radially therein, a lever supporting the cutterat its forward end, a set screw threaded through the body and bearingupon the outer end of the lever, a movable collar on the body, means forsecuring it in any adjustment, means for turning the body on itslongitudinal axis, and friction-rollers projecting from the periphery ofthe body opposite to the cutter, the cutter and collar adjusting meansbeing located outside the tube in which the cutter is operated,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR SHACKELFORD.

\Vitnesses:

J. H. (J. BARRETT, MURRAY 6:. HoorER.

